Mass shooting again in the United States leaves five people dead and six injured after retired law enforcement officer opens fire at a popular Orange County Biker bar in California 

John Snowling is identified as ex-cop who killed three and shot his wife in the jaw at California biker's bar as former father in law says he flipped when ex-wife demanded a divorce

By Edward Era Barbacena 

At least five people were killed while six others sustained injuries when a retired law enforcement officer opened fire at the bikers’ bar in California. There were multiple victims, the Orange County Sheriff said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The suspected gunman who killed four people and wounded six others at a popular Orange County biker bar was identified Thursday morning as John Snowling, a retired police officer from the City of Ventura. Snowling was killed in a shootout with law enforcement.

The gunfire erupted around 7:05 p.m. at Cook’s Corner, located at 19152 Santiago Canyon Road in Trabuco Canyon.

The bar calls itself the oldest motorcycle bar in Southern California, and it’s become known as a community gathering spot for a wide range of people.

“We’ve experienced major earthquakes, forest fires, floods, recessions and other disasters. We’ve gotten through all of them and come out stronger. Ride down and check …

Multiple people called 911 to report shots fired, and deputies from the Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene within minutes, according to Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock.

When deputies arrived, emergency dispatchers reported the sounds of gunshots could be heard on their radios.

Eyewitnesses said Snowling, who was first identified by KTLA, had gone to the bar to confront his wife Marie and shot her in the face. Miraculously, she survived. 

William Mosby, Marie's father, identified John and said that the pair had gone through a bitter divorce describing him as 'crazy.' He has not officially been identified.

The pair had been living in the Camarillo area prior to the bitter split where Snowling was a former cop with the Ventura Police Department.

'He was a crazy husband, who couldn't deal with the divorce,' Mosby told The Orange County Register.

Marie, who survived the shooting, had been visiting the popular watering hole for their spaghetti night when she was shot in the lower jaw.

As the terror unfolded, Mosby said that he could hear police cars speeding past his yard and frantic calls started coming in from friends saying his daughter had been shot.

Multiple deputies opened fire, and the suspect was fatally shot. Hallock could not confirm if deputies struck the gunman, although he admitted it was “safe to assume” that was the case.

Five people, including the shooter, were pronounced dead on scene.

Six others were taken to the hospital. Two were in critical condition, Providence Mission Hospital, a trauma center in Mission Viejo, said in a statement.